To avoid the risks of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends letting the baby sleep in the same room as the parents, but on a separate surface such as a crib or bassinet. This is why investing in a solid bassinet from trusted brands like 4moms mamaRoo or HALO is a must if you’re expecting.
The 4moms mamaRoo Sleep Bassinet offers more features, but it also comes at a higher price tag. Meanwhile, HALO carries a more affordable option for moms on a budget, the HALO BassiNest Essentia (although they also carry a model comparable to the 4moms). In this article, we take a look at the mamaRoo and HALO bassinet’s motion and sound features, design, and ease of use to help you decide which bassinet to get for your little one.
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4moms mamaRoo vs HALO Comparison Chart
Model | 4moms mamaRoo Sleep Bassinet | HALO BassiNest |
Amazon product | Amazon product | |
Price | Amazon product | Amazon product |
Special Features | Multiple swing motion settings | Extra storage space and collapsible bedside wall |
Weight Limit | 25 lbs | 20 lbs |
Motion Options | 5 | 1 |
Swing Speed Options | 5 | N/A |
Music | 4 built-in sounds | N/A |
Bluetooth Enabled | Yes | No |
Timer | Yes | Yes |
Storage Pocket | Available | Yes |
Item Weight | 30.5 lbs | 32.6 lbs |
Dimensions (LWH) | 24″ x 29″ x 39″ | 37″ x 45″ x 45″ |
Design and Assembly
The mamaRoo is easier to assemble out of the box compared to the HALO BassiNest

The 4moms mamaRoo Sleep Bassinet and HALO are on par with each other in terms of design and comfort. They both have a breathable mesh bassinet wall to make sure the baby’s breathing is not disrupted as they sleep. If you need extra space for storage, the HALO is outfitted with a storage pocket while the mamaRoo bassinet offers a bassinet storage basket that can be purchased separately. A unique feature of the HALO BassiNest is its patented bedside wall that can be lowered as needed. This makes it easier for moms who had a C-section or are breastfeeding to lift the baby out of the bassinet with less effort.
The 4moms mamaRoo Sleep Bassinet is much faster to assemble and doesn’t require any tools at all. Its bassinet portion only has two prongs designed to extend the bassinet easily. As for the HALO BassiNest, you’ll need a screwdriver to assemble the base. You’ll also need to put together the top bassinet part as they’re not yet attached together out of the box, making the assembly time longer for the HALO.
While it’s easier to assemble the mamaRoo bassinet, it’s not the easiest to clean as it can’t be disassembled. You’ll have to make do with spot cleaning as the bassinet doesn’t come apart. On the other hand, the HALO BassiNest can be disassembled for cleaning. HALO’s more expensive Luxe bassinet has a detachable bed that can be cleaned easily.
Motion & Speed Features
The mamaRoo features five motion and speed settings while the HALO is designed to swivel 360 degrees

When it comes to their features, the mamaRoo and HALO are pretty different. The 4moms mamaRoo boasts five motion settings to help soothe your baby to sleep: car ride, kangaroo, tree swing, rock-a-bye, and wave. There are also five speed settings you can choose from.
The HALO BassiNest lines, on the other hand, don’t have any motion or speed settings. They do feature a gentle vibration for soothing your baby. A feature that the HALO has that’s missing in the mamaRoo is its 360-degree swiveling base. This lets you move the baby closer to you while in bed, something you can’t do with the mamaRoo.
Sound & Additional Features
Both offer soothing sounds; the mamaRoo boasts Bluetooth connectivity

The most affordable HALO BassiNest Essentia doesn’t come equipped with soothing sounds, but the Premier and Luxe models do. Their built-in sounds are white noise, babbling brook, heartbeat, and rainforest and they automatically shut off. The 4moms mamaRoo also has four soothing sounds: ocean, shh, fan, and rain.
Between the two, only the 4moms mamaRoo boasts Bluetooth connectivity. This makes it super convenient to change the motion, speed, and sound settings of the bassinet even when you’re not next to it.
Verdict
The mamaRoo’s different motion and speed settings make it the more versatile bassinet option
Amazon productYou can’t go wrong with either the 4moms mamaRoo or HALO BassiNest line as they are reliable choices that will keep your little one safe and comfortable. With that said, the mamaRoo Sleep Bassinet is the easier recommendation for its smart features and motion settings. Since you don’t know if your baby will be a fussy sleeper and might need to be rocked to sleep, having a bassinet like the mamaRoo that has the motion options is the safer bet. In addition, the mamaRoo has a better weight limit of 25 lbs than the 20-lb limit of the HALO BassiNest Essentia.
FAQs
Yes. For the motion, speed, or sound features to work, the mamaRoo bassinet needs to be plugged into an outlet.
No, you can just use the onboard buttons of the bassinet if you want.
No, it’s not included, but available for purchase separately.
We love the mamaRoo more than the HALO as it offers motion and speed settings to help soothe the baby to sleep.